Murder on the Red River

The Cash Blackbear Mysteries, Book 1

By: Marcie R. Rendon

Narrated by: Siiri Scott

Length: 6 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

A murdered man in a field. The sheriff needs Cash - a 20-something tough, smart Indian woman with special seeing powers.

Cash and Sheriff Wheaton make for a strange partnership. He pulled her from her mother's wrecked car when she was 3. He's kept an eye out for her ever since. It's a tough place to live - northern Minnesota along the Red River. Cash navigated through foster homes, and at 13 was working farms. She's tough as nails, 5 feet, 2 inches, blue jeans, blue jean jacket, smokes Marlboros, drinks Bud Longnecks. Makes her living driving truck. Playing pool on the side.

Wheaton is big lawman type. Maybe Scandinavian stock, but darker skin than most. He wants her to take hold of her life. Get into junior college. So there they are, staring at the dead Indian lying in the field. Soon Cash was dreaming the dead man's cheap house on the Red Lake Reservation, mother and kids waiting. She has that kind of power. That's the place to start looking. There's a long and dangerous way to go to find the men who killed him. Plus there's Jim, the married white guy. And Long Braids, the Indian guy headed for Minneapolis to join the American Indian Movement.

©2017 Marcie R. Rendon (P)2020 Blackstone Publishing

Great book!

This was a great audible about Native Americans, stereotypes, and a good murder mystery. I am a black woman so I love reading and learning about different races and cultures. The descriptions given in this audible were very visual for me. The storyline was strong and believable. The main character was strong, smart, and but very sad because of her childhood. The narration fit perfectly! I hope this story continues with the same characters. I would love to see Cash go to school and join law enforcement with Winston.

True to life

I grew up near a reservation (today called a "res") and all the details of the unfairness, difficulties and family trauma to the natives are all accurate. The author's voice was soothing to listen to and perfect for the character Cash. I suspect she is Native American because her accent is spot on when she speaks as the children and other native English speakers. it even slips through occasionally on some words while speaking as Cash and sounds very authentic as if she has spoken it not just as a narrator, but as a part of her life. It made everything feel very authentic as if spoken by a Native American speaking a language the natives were forced to speak, English. She did a perfect job of representing all the characters.
The writing was also spot on and the author is a gifted writer and knows how to describe situations in a way that I can truly picture the scene in my mind as if I am watching a movie instead of listening to a book. I hope her depiction of Cash is based on someone she knows in real life because it would be awesome to know someone that smart and clever and self assured, Especially it is set in the 1970s. Superb job all around!

Over the top focus on cigarettes and beer.

I understand that both smoking and drinking were part of Cash's life but enough yet!

wow !!

great story with master narration. highly recommended for anyone who likes mystery stories and underdogs succeeding!

Enlightening Novel!

I like storylines that entertain and educate me at the same time. This is one of those. The mystery is genuine and the main character engaging.

Cash’s view of the world is deftly drawn and her character is realistic within it.

I like this writer and her subject matter.

The narration is the weak link but not a deal breaker. I listened to the whole book and am glad I did!

Could be Much shorter story

Without all the details on smoking and discussions of pool and beer drinking. With all the smoking she does she wouldn’t be able to smell all the things in nature she supposedly connected with. Not enough story to make me want to listen to more by this author. Her attempts to make this a story about the mistreatment of natives fell very short

Intriguing & enightening

Good story, but more importantly to me... learning previously unknown facts, truths. Narrator- flawless reading.

Interesting story. Another sad story on American history.

Sad commentary on American injustice. Sound like a chapter out of djt history. Such a shame.

Liked strong, flawed female character

The author tells the heart-wrenching story of Indian segregation through Cash, who's a strong but flawed and traumatized young woman with the special gift of premonition. Will read book 2 of the series.

Outstanding Story

I really enjoyed this story. Based upon an Indian girl in the 70’s. Growing up in foster care after being separated from her family and the life she led as a 19 year old. Helping the Sheriff go through cases and dealing with other tribe’s families while learning more about herself while drinking beer and smoking Marlboro’s. Enjoy this story as I have.